Scientific Mobility Program (SMP)

The Scientific Mobility program (SMP) is an effort of the Government of Brazil aimed at promoting, consolidating, and internationalizing science and technology, innovation, and Brazilian competitiveness through international education exchanges. The SMP program supports study and research in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM fields).

The program was officially launched in July 2011. A December 13, 2011 presidential decree regulates the program, its committees, and the scholarships. The Government of Brazil has committed to providing 75,000 scholarships, but has surpassed the 100,000 goal with the support of the private sector.

The Brazil-U.S. Business Council (BUSBC) recognizes the significance of the Scientific Mobility program and works with our members and partners, including IIE and LASPAU, to facilitate the implementation of SMP, disseminate the program with the U.S. private sector, and help member companies host SMP students for summer internships.

During the Partnership21 conference featuring President Rousseff, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce signed with the Brazilian National Confederation of Industry (CNI) a protocol of intentions to join efforts in this endeavor. The Chamber and CNI reaffirmed their longstanding partnership to foster business growth and to better the business environment in and between Brazil and the United States.

In the spotlight: BUSBC member Boeing was the first private company to offer support for the program, funding 14 full scholarships and providing these students with an internship program. Watch a Boeing video on these "Brazil Scholars" to learn more about this initative.

Watch additional BUSBC member company videos about their involvement with the Scientific Mobility Program below:

The private sector is able to participate in the SMP program by offering internships to students and funding scholarships.

Please contact Renata Vasconcellos for information on the program and guidance on how to host an SMP intern.

SMP and the United States

Around 2,000 SMP undergraduate students are in the United States and will be looking for internships for Summer 2014. These students will complete a full-time internship in an area directly related to their studies in the United States. The undergraduate portion of the program is administered by the Institute of International Education (IIE).

TheUnited States has committed to helping expedite visas for Brazilian students, and the U.S. Embassy in Brasilia has hosted some of the 650 students who are studying in the United States and offered them briefings and visa assistance sessions.

The United States has a complementary initiative to SMP that aims to foster innovation and education between our two countries: “100,000 Strong in the Americas,” an initiative to increase international study in Latin America and the Caribbean.